Seneca Playlot Park
History
Located just west of Chicago's venerable pumping station, tiny Seneca Park provides a quiet oasis from bustling Michigan Avenue. The Chicago Park District leases the park property from the City of Chicago Water Fund. Decades ago, beginning in 1907, the eastern portion of the property was briefly considered part of nearby Lake Shore Playground, and developed as such by the Lincoln Park Commission. In 1915, the State of Illinois built an armory between Seneca and Lake Shore Parks, permanently separating the two. By 1950, the Department of Public Works was managing the city property as Seneca Park. The Chicago Park District began to lease the parkland from the city in 1959.
Seneca Park features both a lawn with shaded walkways and a playlot. On the lawn sit two recent sculptures by nationally-recognized artists: Ben, a bronze horse by sculptor Debra Butterfield, and Farmer's Dream, an abstract piece by sculptor Richard Hunt. The heavily-used playlot is named for Eli Schulman (1910-1988), a well-known restauranteur who was active in promoting recreational activities for children. During his varied career, Schulman served as Deputy Coroner and on the board of McCormick Place, and participated in much charitable work. The park itself takes its name from adjacent Seneca Street, named for the Iroquois tribe of upstate New York.